Services for Differently Abled Population in Delhi

10th May 2003
India International Centre, New Delhi
By
Dr. Bupinder Zutshi (bzutshi@vsnl.com)
Coordinator of the Seminar

A one-day Seminar on "Services for Differently Abled Population in India" was organised by Project- Applied Ethics Institute of India (A project of Development of Integrated Value Applications- DIVA- INDIA) under the auspices of Himalayan Research and Cultural Development on 10th May 2003 at the India International Centre, New Delhi.

Objectives:

Objective of this seminar was to have a dialogue with government/ NGOs/ Civil society organization for effective implementation of the Disability ACT 1995. The purpose was to seek information on services/ facilities and amenities required to provide equal opportunity without any discrimination to the disabled. The aim was to generate to sensitize society and create awareness towards the responsibilities and duties for protecting human rights for the disabled population for their gainful employment and integration with the society. The Seminar sought to:

  • Examine the magnitude and extent of different category of disabled population in India with special reference to National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
  • Evaluate demographic and social and economic profile of various categories of disabled population.
  • Identify the present service available for the different types of disabled population in terms of institutions, community services, self-help groups etc in Delhi.
  • Evaluate the quality of infrastructure, manpower resource for guidance and training and technical support, infrastructure, counseling and equipments available in the centers for disseminating the identified services to the affected population.
  • Find out the gaps in the requirements and availability of services for the disabled population in the rehabilitation and other support centers.
  • Assess the impact of supportive services for creating suitable environment for better quality of life and opportunities for the disabled persons in social and economic sphere.
  • Prepare a set of recommendations for opening of services for the displaced population keeping in view the requirements of the area and to suggest improvements for present services in terms of staff training, curriculum development and purchase of equipments and other supportive programmes.

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Major Focus of Discussion:

  • Establishes responsibility on the society to make adjustments for disabled people so that they overcome various practical, psychological and social hurdles created by their disability.
  • Provisions to ensure equal opportunities without discrimination to all disabled people in Employment and protection of rights and full participation of disabled people in mainstream activities of the society.
  • Responsibility to prevent disabilities, provision of medical care, education, training, employment and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
  • Creating barrier-free environment for them, remove any discrimination against them which prevents them from sharing the development benefits, counteract any abuse or exploitation, lay down strategies for comprehensive development of programmes and services and for equalisation of opportunities.

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Inaugural Session:

Justice Rajinder Sachhar (Ex-Chief Justice of Delhi High Court) chaired the inaugural session of the seminar.

Dr. Deepa Nag Haksar, Honorary General Coordinator of Applied Ethics Institute of India (AEII) welcomed the participants and expressed her happiness for organising this seminar to create awareness for the lack of sensitivity of the society towards the issues and problems faced by disabled people within our society. She hoped that this forum will create a platform between academics, citizens and students in a freeway, crossing the boundaries of lecture halls, institutions and professionals as everybody has something to offer and contribute in life and society, particularly in ethics of personal choices about the concept of what is right and what is wrong. The idea is to share and see how far the hardships and attitude of discrimination towards disabled population could be lessened. She advocated the need to recognize the abilities of differently abled people and integrate them into society without any discrimination and prejudice.

Mr. Javed Abidi, Director, (NCPEDP) presented a shocking picture of employment scenario for disabled people in India in spite of the fact that 3% reservations were provided for disabled population in all governmental departments and Public Service Undertakings, after the promulgation of Disability Act -1995.

Major observations of his theme address are:

  • Disability Act 1995 was a paradigm and welcome shift in the employment provision for disabled population. As earlier provision of 3% reservation (Notification of 1977) was only in class C and D category jobs. It was modified in 1995 and job reservation of 3% was provided for all categories (A, B, C and D).
  • However the reservation does not include mentally disabled people which require rethinking as several appropriate jobs should be reserved for these category of disabled.
  • The identification of the job lists for disabled in all the four categories took 6 years and necessitated PIL and judicial intervention, which reflects the lethargy and mindset of government towards the disability sector.
  • The identification of job list is inhuman and faulty without pragmatic thinking and reasoning. Several jobs have been excluded for specific disability groups (locomotors, with loss of both legs) for example were excluded for jobs like accountant, auditor. Post master etc without any logic and reasoning.
  • Disabled are discriminated while considering their promotions, as no jobs are available in the senior scales under the quota. Hence instances have been found where junior general category staff has become seniors as disabled staff were not considered for the post, irrespective of the fact that he/ she possessed the required experience and capability.
  • Hence there is immediate need for revision of the job lists with more pragmatic and wise thinking.
  • The Disability Act-1995 specifically had suggested provision of incentives for private sector to encourage them to provide jobs to the disabled population without discrimination. But till date no such incentive policy has been prepared although if there is a will it could have been prepared in a couple of days.
  • A study on job opportunities for disabled among the top 100 private companies conducted by NCPEDP depicts a dismal picture 0.2% employment in private companies and 0.05% in multinational companies. There is a positive discrimination against disabled for jobs in private and multinational companies. Unfortunately government has not initiated any dialogue with the private sector for providing job opportunities to the disabled.
  • As 90% of the disabled are illiterate and economically marginal groups the job scenario in self-employment is the only possible alternative. But due to lack of awareness, support, entrepreneur training, skill training and availability of soft loans very few have been gainfully employed.
  • Making of disability as a larger issue among academics, lawyers, judges, medical fraternity, architectures, professional life, social organizations and integrating disability in all spheres of life

Justice Sacchar, stressed that support to disabled should not be looked as charity or sympathy rather it should be viewed as their right and duty of society towards this important section of society. Positive discrimination against them is shame and society should be sensitised against it. He stated that disabled people have different abilities, which should be encouraged, and they are no less than the normal human beings.

He suggested that it should be mandatory for sectors seeking public funding to provide appropriate job quota to the disabled as social security services for the disabled is invisible in India. He felt that civil society and citizens should work together to have an honest public lobby and pressurise government for seeking justice for the disabled.

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Session - II

Dr. Dharmendra Kumar presented the activities and profile of IPH. Major observations stated by him were:

  • Institute of Physically Handicapped centre, located in Delhi is basically to develop human resource among the disabled by providing professional courses to the disabled. Currently B.Sc. (Hons) course is provided in Physical and Occupational Therapy for four and half years duration including 6 months of internship. The interns are attached with renounced hospitals in Delhi. Hostel facility is available for outstation students.
  • The Institute also provides out-patient clinics for assessment of disability in occupational, physical and speech therapy units. The out-patient clinic assesses, evaluates and provides appropriate treatments.
  • The institutes Workshop fabricates and assembles aids and appliances by using latest modular technology under the supervision of qualified professionals. The aids and appliances are provided to disabled either free of cost or on subsidized rates.
  • The Institute also organises outreach programmes to cover the target group through CRCs in other states.

Major observations of Dr. B. Zutshi's presentation are:

  • Projected magnitude of physically disabled population for 2001 is to the tune of 20.4 million, out of which 12.05 million are male and 8.37 million are female. Total physically disabled constituting 2 % of total population in India, keeping in view the records of NSSO 47th Round (1991) results. According to these estimates Locomotor, visual, Hearing and Speech disability would constitute 55%, 25%, 20%, and 12% respectively of total physically disabled population. A significant proportion of the disabled have multiple disabilities.
  • The study indicates that 9.15% of households in India have at least one physically disabled person. A significant proportion of households have even 2 or more than 2 physically disabled persons.
  • The degree of disability indicates that 23% physically disabled can not function even with aid, while 16 % can only function with aid and the rest 59% can function even without aid.
  • The prevalence rate and incidence rates of Locomotor physically disabled has depicted significant increase from 1981 to 1991, while comparing the results of NSSO survey 36th round (1981) and 47th round (1991). However there is a slight decline in the prevalence and incidence rate for visual, hearing and speech disability from 1981 to 1991. This indicates preventive measures in the early ages could reduce these impairments.
  • Government initiatives include establishment of District Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs). These DRCs have assessment clinics for therapy; they supply Aids and Appliances, create awareness for social rehabilitation and provide other benefits like pension, bus passes and skill training. However the magnitude of beneficiaries is extremely low compared to the incidence rate.
  • According to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment annual report 1999-2000 a total of 343,804 clients were admitted for therapy till 1997, out of which 329,777 were evaluated and 102,845 were rehabilitated indicating only 30% rehabilitation rate to the total clients admitted. Hence DRCs must have extension services to cover far-flung and inaccessible areas throughout the country.
  • A total of Rs. 230 crores was plan allocation for 2000-2001 for welfare of disabled population under various programmes of government of India which indicates extremely very low allocation for this sector, keeping in view a very high magnitude of population.
  • The financial expenditure from centre and states for the disability sector in India was Rs.286.66 crores for the year 1999-2000 for an estimated disabled population of 42 million. It indicates a dismal per head expenditure of Rs.68 per annum. 24.23 lakhs of beneficiaries constituting only 5.8% of the estimated disabled persons were covered under this financial support. The per head beneficiary expenditure was to the tune of Rs 1188 per annum which is extremely low.
  • Hence parents, relatives and society directly covered majority of the support for the disabled population and the government was only playing a minor role for their support.

Major observations of the papers presented by Dr. A. Nandi, Prof. Tillotmma Daswani and Dr. K. Sunanda were:

  • Learning disabled children constituted a significant proportion of school going children in India. These children require early counselling in schools and proper diagnosis for correcting their learning disabilities. The incidence rate of such students varies from 5-12 percents. They require immediate specialized S.I therapy, and appropriate teaching learning aids to rectify there learning capacities in early ages.
  • Early intervention of abnormal children can retrieve them from future disability; hence preventive measures in the early childhood will go a long way to reduce disability. It requires surveillance otherwise minor prevalence of disability may lead to chronic disability syndrome in their adolescents. Hence identification of the disability should be started through village surveys/ camps and extension programmes.
  • A study results showed a significant proportion of 13% babies have varying degree of hearing, vision, speech and multiple impairments. If the impairments are treated in the early stages a significant proportion of them could be rectified.
  • Similarly mental retardation cases could be lessened if proper diagnosis and appropriate surveillance is adopted at the early stages.

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Session-III

Major observations presented in the session were:

  • Economic opportunities and social integration of disabled without discrimination is the need of the hour. This could be achieved only if all disabled people will unite and fight together for their due entitlements without any prejudice as parity not charity is the need of the time.
  • There is need to have disability as a separate discipline in the colleges and Universities with an integrated multi-disciplinary approach. This will project the due needs, requirements and entitlements of this large community.
  • Mental disability has not received due recognition from society, policy makers and government. Support for these victims is required to mainstream them economically. Specific Homes needs to be developed for them and identification of appropriate jobs needs to be worked out with support from government and civil society. Inclusive education of children with mental retardation needs to be experimented.
  • Promote education of disabled children in normal schools to create conducive condition for their social integration. So far only very few children have been integrated in the normal schools.
  • Collective pressure from NGOs, civil society requires to be maintained to see the implementation of all legislative majors adopted for the disabled.
  • Disabled need accessibility in education, employment and social integration.
  • 30,000 disabled have benefited from Vocational Rehabilitation Centre in Delhi as they have been provided need-based skills. A significant proportion of them have been directly employed in government and PSUs. However gender parity in providing skill development training among disabled is observed, as only 15% women were beneficiaries. Even parity in skill training among types of physical disability was not observed. 87% beneficiaries were locomotor disability compared to only 13% visual, hearing and speech disability.
  • With 3% reservation in government and PSUs there is tremendous scope of employment for disabled provided appropriate skill training are imparted to them. Disabled people from far-flung inaccessible area need to be coved under these programmes.
  • Since majority of disabled (nearly 90%) are illiterate and from lower income groups, therefore self employment is the only way for their economic sustenance in the absence of social and economic security services. Several case studies of success stories were presented by the representative of Family of Disability NGO, highlighting their economic upliftment through provision of self-employment.
  • Provision of loan facility at lower interest rates by banks and other financial institution with constant monitoring under sheltered conditions from NGOs was recommended to create appropriate avenues for their self-employment.
  • The activities of the National Association for Blind include E-text library for blind, integrated education facility for blind and other multi-disability groups. Students are sponsored for higher education in renowned schools. The students are provided Computer training to train them for software technology. The aim of the centre is to promote social and psychological integration. Hostel facilities are made available for catering target groups from far-flung areas.

Recommendations:

  • Government of India must undertake revision of identification of job list for disabled population for 3% reservation in government and PSUs, keeping in view elimination of negative jobs for disabled rather than identifying positive jobs for disabled. The Committee for job identification list should include people from all walks of life including the disabled and pragmatic approach must be adopted for identifying job list.
  • More categories of disability must be included in the Act for provision of reservation benefits especially mentally disabled, autism, hemophilia and Alzheimer's disease etc.
  • Disability should be taught as a separate discipline in the colleges and Universities with an integrated multi-disciplinary approach.
  • Regular promotions without positive discrimination to disabled staff in government and PSUs to next grade should be given in time.
  • Immediate adoption of Incentive policy for providing incentives to private sector for promoting employment of disabled. Employment of disabled should be made mandatory for the organizations supported by government funding.
  • Easy access of loan at lowest interest rates for disabled especially for women for encouraging self-employment entrepreneurship. Their self-employments schemes must be monitored and sheltered with support from government and civil society agencies.
  • Private sector should be encouraged and sensitised to provide equal opportunities without positive discrimination to disabled population through persuasion, awareness and pressure lobby.
  • Government of India should accord priority to poor persons with disabilities in all poverty alleviation programmes.
  • Priority must be given to disabled women in all policies and programmes aimed at eradicating discrimination against them and providing necessary training skills for their income generation support.
  • Residential care for those without any support from families must be given top priority.
  • The Disability Act 1995 and its Rules 1996 must be translated into all regional languages, so that its various provisions, benefits, etc. become widely known.
  • Coverage in programmes must be increased in the electronic and print media, which promote positive attitude towards persons with disability.
  • Counsellors who can provide S.I therapy should be appointed in all schools (government and private) to identify learning disabilities among the school-going children. Curriculum for mentally disabled or learners with disability must be made appropriate and tailor-made to reduce their stress.
  • Early intervention for minor impairments should be made mandatory through hospital services for prevention of these impairments turning into chronic impairment cases later.
  • Collective efforts must be made by the entire society to integrate disabled with society for social contacts and participation in leisure and recreational activities.

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